Homepage - Rachael Horan Counselling & Supervision

“We know from experience and the growing body of supportive literature that the therapeutic relationship a counsellor forms with each client can be the most powerful tool for helping clients change.”

Cochran & Cochran

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can see change.”

Carl Rogers

“We know from experience and the growing body of supportive literature that the therapeutic relationship a counsellor forms with each client can be the most powerful tool for helping clients change.”

Cochran & Cochran

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can see change.”

Carl Rogers

What is counselling?

Counselling is a type of therapy offered by a counsellor to help you overcome problems, change unhelpful behaviours and become happier. This involves being listened to in a supportive atmosphere so that you are more open to exploring feelings that you may not otherwise feel able to.

How can counselling benefit me?

Counselling provides you with the time and space to work through your difficulties in a safe environment.

It can help you to better understand and process past traumas, address relationship concerns and navigate challenging life situations.

By engaging in and building a relationship with a trained professional such as a counsellor, you can gain a different perspective, share your thoughts with a person who will not judge and who will treat you with the utmost respect.

If you are looking for support with social interactions, counselling can help to increase your communication and interpersonal skills, which leads to greater self-acceptance and self-esteem.

A counsellor can help you to understand how your past experiences are currently affecting you. You are then supported to develop coping strategies and make changes to overcome self-destructive behaviours. This means you can more confidently face the world knowing you are better able to handle and process uncertain situations in the future and learn from them.

Ultimately, counselling can put you on a path of self-discovery, facilitating behaviour changes and promoting decision-making. This leads to a more enriching relationship with yourself and a happier and more fulfilling life where you feel able to achieve your goals.

Enquire

What does Rachael Horan Counselling & Supervision offer?

Rachael Horan Counselling & Supervision provides adults and children with support to work through emotional issues, either face-to-face in Wellington, Somerset, or online via Zoom or FaceTime.

Contact Me

Testimonials

Rachael started seeing my 8 year old son last year and it has honestly made such a difference to his understanding of his emotions and to his behaviour at home. She managed to connect with him on a level that we couldn’t and I am forever grateful.

S.K.

I had a combination of CBT and counselling for past trauma and Rachael connected dots for me that I hadn’t pieced together myself. It opened up a whole other area for me to explore and I can now put to rest a lot of stuff from the past that I was carrying with me.

Abi S.

Counselling really helped me to overcome some of my anxiety and understand why I was feeling a certain way. I received lots of practical ideas to move forward with and I got a lot out of it. Rachael put me at ease throughout the process.

Katie

I now understand how I can look after myself and prioritise my own needs. This in itself is life changing.

C.B.

Rachael had the ability to get my daughter to open up and share her worries with me and for that I am hugely grateful.

Claire T.

When I first started seeing Rachael I was scared to talk about my past and felt ashamed. Rachael made me feel safe and not judged. Once I got going I couldn’t stop! It’s a huge weight lifted.

Oliver B.

I enquired with Rachael at first because of some relationship problems and after some time talking about this I realised it was me who had to make some changes. It was something I wouldn’t have otherwise understood and my relationships have now really improved.

Mark S.

Useful resources

The impact of the pandemic on children and young people’s mental health

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust mental health crisis page

The Samaritans 116 123

Mindline Somerset 01823 276892 or 08001381692

Shout 85258 (text support service)

BACP Homepage

Cover for Rachael Horan Counselling & Supervision MBACP

Page likes: 336

(opens in a new tab)

Rachael Horan Counselling & Supervision MBACP

(opens in a new tab)

I am an Integrative Counsellor (adults, children/young people and couples) & Clinical Supervisor. I provide sessions in local primary & secondary schools. I take referrals from Cornerstone and Community Counselling CIC. Sessions are in person or online.

Rachael Horan Counselling & Supervision MBACP

7 hours ago

Men’s Mental Health this November-Men are statistically less likely to arrange and attend counselling sessions, so I thought as this month is about encouraging men to seek help when they need it, it’s a good time to do a post about men’s mental health. For generations, many boys have grown up hearing phrases such as “boys don’t cry”, “man up” and “don’t be so sensitive”. Previous generations were often brought up with the belief that men should be strong, provide for their families, deal with their problems and keep their emotions to themselves. Showing sadness, fear or vulnerability wasn’t always encouraged.These attitudes can be passed down, often without people even realising. Men who were taught not to show emotion may find it difficult to express feelings as adults, or know how to respond when others do.But what happens when those feelings have nowhere to go?Sometimes emotional distress can show up as anger, frustration, withdrawing from relationships, drinking more, working excessively or struggling to switch off. Not everyone experiences or expresses difficulties in the same way.The statistics highlight why this matters:● Around 1 in 8 men in England experiences a common mental health problem, such as anxiety or depression.● Men are around three times more likely than women to die by suicide in England and Wales.● Men are less likely than women to seek counselling. It’s important that we challenge the idea that talking about feelings is a sign of weakness. Crying isn’t weakness, asking for help isn’t failure, and being vulnerable doesn’t make someone any less of a man.Perhaps we also need to recognise that changing these attitudes starts with the next generation. Allowing boys to express sadness, talk about their worries and show emotion helps them understand that feelings are a normal part of being human.Counselling can offer a space to explore feelings that may have been pushed aside for years, without judgement or expectations.We don’t have to keep repeating the messages we grew up with.#MensMentalHealth #Movember #MentalHealthAwareness #BreakingTheStigma #counselling ...

Photo

View on Facebook (opens in a new tab)

Rachael Horan Counselling & Supervision MBACP

3 weeks ago

Last week was OCD Awareness week, and it is something that is talked about so much in my counselling room. So what is OCD?OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) is a mental health condition that is often misunderstood. It’s not just about being clean, tidy or liking things a certain way.OCD involves unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images or urges/obsessions, and repetitive behaviours/ compulsions that a person feels they need to carry out to ease anxiety or distress.This can include repeatedly checking things, washing, counting, seeking reassurance or going over thoughts and situations in your head. Not all compulsions are visible to others.Why does OCD develop?There isn’t one simple answer. Genetics, brain functioning, life experiences and illness can all play a part. Stressful events can also trigger symptoms or make them worse. Who can be affected?Absolutely anyone! OCD affects children, teenagers and adults, regardless of gender or background. It can start at any stage of life. What can OCD look like?* Fear of germs or contamination* Constant checking* Unwanted intrusive thoughts* Needing things to feel just right* Constantly seeking reassurance* Repeating actions or thoughts to feel less anxiousOCD doesn’t always look the way people expect, and having an intrusive thought doesn’t mean you want it to happen.It can be debilitating for some people, but counselling can help. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a favoured model, but sometimes just sharing and having someone listen can be enormously beneficial. #counselling #psychotherapy #ocd #cbt #mentalhealth ...

Photo

View on Facebook (opens in a new tab)

Rachael Horan Counselling & Supervision MBACP updated their profile picture.

4 weeks ago

Rachael Horan Counselling & Supervision MBACP ...

Photo

View on Facebook (opens in a new tab)

Rachael Horan Counselling & Supervision MBACP

4 weeks ago

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)- I’m a huge fan of this approach! Developed by American psychologist Dr Steven C. Hayes and colleagues in the 1980s, ACT helps us change how we respond to difficult thoughts and feelings, rather than constantly trying to eliminate them.Have you ever avoided something because you felt anxious, overthought a situation or waited until you felt more confident before taking a step forward?It’s natural to want to avoid uncomfortable emotions, but sometimes the struggle to get rid of them can leave us feeling even more stuck.ACT encourages us to make room for our feelings while still moving towards what matters to us.🌱 Acceptance: Allowing difficult emotions to be present without constantly fighting them.🌱 Stepping back from thoughts: Recognising that a thought isn’t necessarily a fact. We can notice our thoughts without automatically believing them.🌱 Being present: Bringing our attention back to the here and now instead of getting caught up in the past or worrying about the future.🌱 Understanding our values: Identifying what matters most to us, such as family, connection, kindness or courage.🌱 Committed action: Taking small steps towards the life we want, even when things feel uncomfortable.For example, you might feel anxious about meeting a friend. Rather than waiting for the anxiety to disappear, you could recognise that connection matters to you and choose to go anyway.ACT isn’t about pretending everything is fine or accepting situations that are harmful. It’s about developing psychological flexibility — learning to respond to our experiences differently and make choices guided by our values.💚 Something to reflect on:Is there something you’ve been putting off until you feel more confident or in control?What small step could you take towards it, even if the uncomfortable feelings are still there?You don’t have to feel ready to move towards what matters to you. #counsellingandpsychotherapy #acceptanceandcommitmenttherapy #counsellingservices #values #understandingyourself ...

Photo

View on Facebook (opens in a new tab)

Rachael Horan Counselling & Supervision MBACP

1 month ago

🌍 World Mental Health Day – 10 October 2026 💚Your mental health matters every day.It is a good opportunity to pause and think about how we’re really doing.Life can be difficult sometimes. We can feel overwhelmed, anxious, exhausted, low or simply not quite ourselves. Sometimes we know why, and sometimes we don’t.And often, we become very good at carrying on.We work, look after our families, support other people and keep busy — while putting our own needs to one side.But looking after our mental health matters too.🌿 Take time for yourself without feeling guilty.🌿 Talk to someone you trust.🌿 Set boundaries when things become too much.🌿 Make space for things that make you feel good.🌿 Be kind to yourself.🌿 And ask for support when you need it.You don’t have to wait until you’re at breaking point to reach out.You don’t need to have all the answers, or even know exactly what you want to talk about. Sometimes, having someone simply listen can be the first step.So today, ask yourself:💭 How am I really doing?💭 What do I need at the moment?💭 Who could I talk to if things feel difficult?And remember to give yourself the same kindness and understanding you would give to someone you care about.Your mental health matters. Your feelings matter. And asking for help is okay. 💚 #worldmentalhealthday #mentalhealthmatters #counsellingandpsychotherapy #counsellingservices ...

Photo

View on Facebook (opens in a new tab)